VOLUSIA COUNTY, Fla — The 3-year-old boy who died after shooting himself with a gun Wednesday got into his parents' bedroom and found the 9-millimeter gun from their nightstand drawer, Volusia County Sheriff Mike Chitwood said at a news conference Thursday. 

The child pulled the trigger and fired one round, Chitwood said.

The Volusia sheriff said the boy's parents had gone to the grocery store and left his 16-year-old sister at home to watch the child and his 7-year-old brother. 

The incident took place shortly after 6 p.m. near the 2400 block of Nectarine Road in Daytona Park Estates in DeLand. 

Chitwood said he did not know whether any charges would be filed. He indicated a state statute says no arrest shall be made before seven days after the accidental shooting of a child.

"We will — as we do with every case — we will investigate it, and we will submit it to the state attorney," Chitwood said. "But I cannot imagine there is anything in the law books that can punish that family member more than what happened last night (Wednesday)."

The Department of Children and Families also is involved in the case.

The father is a correctional officer, so specific details can't be released about the family, Chitwood said. The father told investigators that firearms are usually kept in a safe in the bedroom, the Volusia sheriff's office said. He said the safe's electronic lock function had stopped working, and the firearms were placed on top of the refrigerator in the kitchen and in the nightstand, according to a Volusia sheriff's office report.

He urged parents to lock up any guns they have in the home.

"I would like them to listen to that 911 call. I would like to have them hear the 16-year-old say, 'My brother shot himself and he's not breathing.' I think if you heard that, you would run out right now, and buy a gun safe," he said. 

Chitwood said his biggest concern now is the mental and physical health of his deputies and first responders because the scene of the shooting was difficult. Those involved are in the process of setting up meetings with a psychologist, he said.